Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-10
special to Atlanta Constltutlon.l ]

Especial to Atlanta constitutional
WALTHOURVILLE, GA, June !.
A prominent citizen Of Reids-
vile, here to-day, was shown the
dramatic story concerning Lawyer
Cllfton's alleged ride across the
country to save a murdereTs life.
He laughed heartily, and said there
was scarcely a word Of truth IN it.
Said he:
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
"At the April term of Tatnall Su-
perior Court Jacob Leggett was in
dicted, tried and found guilty Of the
murder of Lillian Grigsby, his par
amour. and not his wife. The evil
dence for the State was very strong
and positive, and showed that Leg
gett, on account of jealousy, one
Sunday morning, while Lillian
Grigsby was on her way home from
Sunday school, literally butchered
her with a pocketknife to keep her
from leaving him and taking up
with his rival. His lawyers saw
they had desperate case, and de-
termined, If possible, to save his
neck by a verdict recommending
him to be imprisoned for life, but
the Jury, which was composed OF
some of the best men in the coun.
ty, after a careful and deliberate
consideration OF the case, decided
that Jake Leggett ought to be
hung, and rendered their verdict
accordingly. The unfortunate man
was sentenced by Judge Hines to
be hung on the 18th of May. AS
the day of execution approached ru'
mors were in circulation that Mr.
Clifton indended to make an effort
to save Leggett's life, because no.
body could give any reason why
Leggett should not be hung.
WHEN CLIFTON DID ARRIVE.
"The day of execution at last ar
rived. Mr.. Clifton preceding 1t
with telegram IN his pocket from
Coy. Gordon to the sheriff, in
forming him that he had respited
Leggett for thirty days. When
Mr.. Clifton arrived, which was
some time during the night of the
18th, he stopped with Mr.. II. w.
Mattox, and make known his mis-
sion, but for what reason no one
can imagine kept it secret, except
TO a select few. Secrecy was i'm
posed upon them. About 10 o'clock
the sheriff visited the residence of
Mr.. Mattox, where Mr.. Clifton
was, and no intimatiOn was given
him that a respite was in existence
and that the Governor had tele-
graphed him to that effect.
TIE FARCE AT THE GALLONS.
CAT II o'clock the sheriff and his
guard started with Legget for the
gallows, where Leggett mounted
the scaffOId and the rope was put
on his neck, after which his feet
and arms were pinioned. The Rev.
Kit Williams read the 10Th Psalm,
and lead in prayer, making an
earnest appeal TO Jehovah to save
the soul of the condemned man.
Mr.. Clifton, in the meantime, arriv-
ed and occupied position near the
scaffold. When the prayer was
ended Mr.. Clifton exclaimed
"'Mr. Sheriff, | have telegram
from the Governor of Georgia to
you, sir, respiting Jacob Leggett
for thirty days
"Mr Clifton then mounted the
scaffold and read the telegram
TIL ereupon Col. w. n. Winn ex-
claimed, Here, read this at the
same time handing Mr.. Clifton a
COPY of the Savannah IimeS, which
Mr.. Clifton had brought with him,
containing an article headed, "A
lawyer carrying a mans lite in his
pocket which was read with a
good deal of gusto.
THE FARCE ENDED.
"At the conclusion OF the article
the sheriff, with his prisoner, de-
scended the platform, and the
crowd, which did not exceed eight
hundred, without any demonstra-
ton whatever, quietly dispersed
Leggett did not say a word, and
from his manner did not apprecI'
ate the efforts Mr.. Clinton had
made for him. There is no desire
to detract from the laurels Mr'
Clifton plucked on this occasion,
but the truth Of Leggetts hair
breadth escape, as it actually Oc'
Cured. should be known. If the
author of the article referred to
doubts the statement here given, II
can be shown to him that instead
OF a narrow escape, it was a cruel
farce. enacted unnecessarily at
the expense of Jacob Leggett, and
should he be eventually hung, he
will have suffered twice the dread
lul mental ag)nies which preceie q
the actual execution
Girls said worthy o'd lady 90
her grand daughters, 'whenever a
fellow pops the question don't blush
and stare at your feet. just throw
your arms around bis neck, look